Cart pusher, mateable carts, and related systems, methods, and devices

Abstract

Various embodiments herein relate to powered pusher devices configured to push wheeled objects from one location to another. Further embodiments relate to wheeled objects such as carts for transporting items from one location to another. Other embodiments relate to platform powered pushers that can be coupled to a family of various wheeled objects.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A powered pushing device, the device comprising:
 (a) a base; 
 (b) a left control handle coupled to a left portion of the base; 
 (c) a right control handle coupled to a right portion of the base; 
 (d) a latching component configured to be coupleable to a wheeled object, wherein the latching component is disposed at a proximal location on the base; 
 (e) a pair of rear swivel wheels; 
 (f) a pair of front fixed wheels disposed under the base, wherein the fixed front wheels are disposed proximally from a front end of the base; and 
 (g) a motor operably coupled to the pair of front fixed wheels. 
 
     
     
       2. The powered pushing device of  claim 1 , wherein the latching component is configured to be coupleable to a wheeled cart, a flatbed cart, a shelf cart, or a wheelchair. 
     
     
       3. The powered pushing device of  claim 1 , wherein the latching component comprises at least one latch, wherein the at least one latch is configured to be coupleable to a coupling component on the wheeled object. 
     
     
       4. The powered pushing device of  claim 1 , wherein the left control handle and the right control handle define an extended cargo space between the left and right control handles. 
     
     
       5. The powered pushing device of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the pair of rear swivel wheels is greater than a distance between the pair of front fixed wheels. 
     
     
       6. The powered pushing device of  claim 1 , wherein the base is a flatbed base. 
     
     
       7. The powered pushing device of  claim 6 , wherein the flatbed base has a maximum height of about 7.5 inches. 
     
     
       8. The powered pushing device of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the left control handle and the right control handle is at least as great as a width of the base. 
     
     
       9. A powered pushing device, the device comprising:
 (a) a base; 
 (b) a left control handle coupled to a left portion of the base; 
 (c) a right control handle coupled to a right portion of the base; 
 (d) an extended cargo space defined between the left and right control handles; 
 (e) a latching component configured to be coupleable to a wheeled object, wherein the latching component is disposed at a proximal location on the base; 
 (f) a pair of rear swivel wheels; 
 (g) a pair of front fixed wheels disposed under the base, wherein the fixed front wheels are disposed proximally from a front end of the base; and 
 (h) a motor operably coupled to the pair of front fixed wheels. 
 
     
     
       10. The powered pushing device of  claim 9 , wherein a distance between the pair of rear swivel wheels is greater than the distance between the pair of front fixed wheels. 
     
     
       11. The powered pushing device of  claim 9 , wherein the base is a flatbed base having a maximum height of about 7.5 inches. 
     
     
       12. The powered pushing device of  claim 9 , wherein the extended cargo space has a distance between the left control handle and the right control handle that is at least as great as a width of the base. 
     
     
       13. A powered pushing device, the device comprising:
 (a) a base; 
 (b) a left control handle coupled to a left portion of the base; 
 (c) a right control handle coupled to a right portion of the base; 
 (d) an extended cargo space defined by a distance between the left and right control handles, wherein the distance is at least as great as a width of the base; 
 (e) a latching component configured to be coupleable to a wheeled object, wherein the latching component is disposed at a proximal location on the base; 
 (f) a pair of rear swivel wheels having a rear wheel distance between the pair of rear swivel wheels; 
 (g) a pair of front fixed wheels disposed under the base, wherein the fixed front wheels are disposed proximally from a front end of the base, and further wherein the pair of front fixed wheels has a front wheel distance between the pair of front fixed wheels that is less than the rear wheel distance; and 
 (h) a motor operably coupled to the pair of front fixed wheels. 
 
     
     
       14. The powered pushing device of  claim 13 , wherein the base is a flatbed base having a maximum height of about 7.5 inches. 
     
     
       15. The powered pushing device of  claim 13 , wherein the wheeled object comprises a wheeled cart, a flatbed cart, a shelf cart, or a wheelchair. 
     
     
       16. The powered pushing device of  claim 13 , wherein the latching component comprises at least one latch, wherein the at least one latch is configured to be coupleable to a coupling component on the wheeled object. 
     
     
       17. The powered pushing device of  claim 13 , wherein the latching component is configured to be interchangeably coupleable to a plurality of different wheeled objects. 
     
     
       18. The powered pushing device of  claim 13 , wherein the powered pushing device is coupleable to a shelf cart comprising a deployment plate and two guide wheels such that when the powered pushing device is positioned under the shelf cart, the powered pushing device makes contact with the deployment plate and causes the deployment plate to move, thereby causing the two guide wheels to move into a retracted position. 
     
     
       19. The powered pushing device of  claim 13 , wherein the powered pushing device is coupleable to at least two flatbed carts in a stacked configuration.